Explosive fire-alarm button.



PATENTED APR. 25, 1905. E. A; SWEET.

EXPLOSIVE FIRE ALARM BUTTON.

APPLICATION FILED AUG 26 1904 fizz 611,60)":

I Jttys.

Wz'inesses:

NTTED STATES Patented. April 25, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR AMOS SIVEET, OF PEAGEDALE, RHODE ISLAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,225, dated April 25, 1905.

Application filed August 26, 1904. Serial No. 222,345.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR AMos SWEET, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peacedale, in the county of Washington and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosive Fire- Alarm Buttons, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a fire-alarm of the general size and shape of a button charged with an explosive and provided with one or more fuses which project laterally outward in position to be ignited by a flame. The device is provided with a rearwardly-projecting spur by which it may be readily secured to the walls, wall decorations, ceiling. or floor of a room with the fuses in proximity to the surface in position to give instant warning of the presence of fire.

In its preferred form the alarm consists of a shallow metal cup with spaced lateral openings near its base, a separate packet of an explosive in the base of the cup with integral fiat fuses which extend through the openings, and a layer of plaster-of-paris overlying and confining the explosive.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 is a vertical axial section, of the preferred form of lire-alarm; and Fig. 3 is a front elevation, and Fig. 4: is a vertical axial section, of a modified form of lire-alarm.

The alarm shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a shallow receptacle 1, preferably stamped out of tin-plate. A spur 2, shown as the point of an ordinary tack, projects rearwardly from the back of the cup, the head of the tack being soldered thereto. A charge 3 of an explosive, such as gunpowder or guncotton, is held in a thin paper container which has short integral radial fiat extensions 4, also filled with an explosive and constituting fuses. These fuses, shown as four in number, project through lateral openings in the sides of the cup 1 near its base in position to lie substantially on the surface of the object to which the alarm is attached. A disk 5 of paraflined cardboard is forced into the cup upon the explosive, and the cup is then filled With a layer 6 of plastic material, such as plaster-of-paris, which is held in place by the inwardly-bent edge 7 of the cup.

The alarm shown in Figs. 3 and 4 also comprises a shallow sheet-metal cup 1, having the head of a tack 2 soldered to its back, and an explosive charge 3, having fuses 4, which project through lateral openings near the base of the cup. In this instance, however, the charge is confined by a felt wad 8, which is held in place by a sheet-metal cap 9, having slots 10, which receive the fuses, and a flanged edge 11, which is bent underneath the back of the cup.

It will be seen that this alarm is simple, neat, and inexpensive. It can be attached to the surface of a room or its furniture, with its fuses in proximity thereto, and while it is unobtrusive and of small size it contains a sufiicient charge of explosive to give warning to persons in distant parts of the building. It can be manufactured in various sizes and shapes and in assorted colors to match the object to which it is attached.

I claim-- 1. An explosive fire-alarm button, comprising a shallow receptacle having lateral openings at various points around its periphery, an explosive charge in said receptacle, integral fuses extending from said charge through said lateral openings, and means for confining said charge, as set forth.

2. An explosive fire-alarm button, comprising a shallow receptacle having a spur projecting from its back and a lateral opening or openings, a separate packet of an explosive in said receptacle having an integral fuse or fuses extending through said lateral opening or openings, and means for confining said explosive, as set forth.

3. An explosive fire alarm button, comprising a shallow receptacle having lateral openings at various points around its periphery, an explosive charge in said receptacle, a paper charge-container having integral fuses extending through said lateral openings, and means for confining said charge, as set forth.

4- An explosive fire-alarm button, comprising a shallow receptacle having attaching means at its back and lateral openings at various points around its periphery, an explosive charge in said receptacle, fuses extending from said charge through said lateral openings, and an easily frangible confiner for said 5 charge, as set forth.

5. An explosive fire-alarm button, comprisingashallow receptacle having a spur projecting from its back and a lateral opening or openings, a separate packet of an explosive IO in said receptacle having an integral fuse or fuses extending through said lateral opening or openings, and a layer of a plastic composition confining said charge, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDGAR AMOS SWEET.

Witnesses:

FRANK WV. CLEMMs, MARY W. SWEET. 

